by Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Recently, visitors flocked to the 138th annual New England Fall Flower Show. The event took place at The Garden at Elm Bank, the 36-acre home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS). This year’s show boasted quite an array of activities, demonstrations, vendors, and, of course, stunning plants and flowers.
The first day of this year’s flower show was unfortunately quite rainy, though that did not appear to deter anyone from attending. Interestingly, the first day of the 1853 flower show, which was held before the event was deemed annual, also endured quite a deluge. Though everything inside the canvas tent got soaked that year, the show was still considered very successful, particularly due to the introduction of the concord grape by Ephraim Wales Bull.
According to their website, masshort.org, the “Massachusetts Horticultural Society seeks to help people change their lives and communities for the better through growing plants together. For 194 years, Massachusetts Horticultural Society has had a mission to promote the art and science of horticulture, while staying true to its founding motto, ‘Commune Bonum,’ for the public good.” The society has proved essential time and again, particularly when new fruits and vegetables are introduced. Sunflower oil, which is one of the top four vegetable oils made and used worldwide, was popularized at an Autumn MHS show.
Though no major foods were introduced this year, visitors could learn about things like seed saving, heirloom gardening, Japanese flower arranging, and more under the Demo Tent. Seed tasting, an art station, and pinecone bird feeders were among some of the offerings at the Educational Tent. The Hunnewell Building was home to the judged portion of the show, which displayed miniature gardens, photography, botanical arts, horticulture and floral designs.
“I’m so glad we came,” one guest said to another as they were finishing their lunch, purchased from a food truck onsite. “I wasn’t sure how it would be in the rain, but this is fantastic!”
Anyone interested in getting involved in the 139th New England Flower Show can visit www.masshort.org. The event is slated for September 20th and 21st, 2025. Up next for MHS is the popular Festival of Trees, which will be held from November 29 - December 29th this year.
